A study by Andrea Ferro found that common household activities like dusting, vacuuming, and even walking around can resuspend house dust, increasing exposure to particulate pollution. This can aggravate health problems like asthma and decrease lung functioning.
The study found that the UNOS rule change reduced transplant gaming behavior, but the competitive nature of organ allocation still poses a risk. By dividing patients into three status levels and requiring recertification, the new rules have made it more difficult for hospitals to exaggerate their patients' conditions.
Two UCSD professors, Stefan Savage and Henrik Wann Jensen, join a prestigious group of Sloan Fellows with expertise in computer networking and graphics. The fellowships recognize outstanding research in various fields, including the neural control of movement, differential geometry, and level set methods.
A 12-week lifestyle intervention program helped 64% of patients achieve their blood pressure goal and 67% reach their diastolic blood pressure goal. The program also showed significant reductions in LDL cholesterol and fasting glucose levels.
A multi-center trial comparing three medications in patients with heart failure showed no significant differences between warfarin and antiplatelet therapies in terms of death, non-fatal heart attacks and strokes. However, hospitalizations for worsening heart failure were significantly less frequent in patients treated with warfarin.
A $3.3 million NIH grant-funded study will compare six-times-per-week overnight home hemodialysis to standard three-times-a-week hemodialysis at dialysis centers. The research aims to determine if the higher dose of dialysis improves patient outcomes, including hospitalization rates and quality of life.
A new study from Michigan Medicine found that heart attack and angina patients experience difficulties sticking to their medication regimens six months after hospitalization. Forgetfulness, carelessness, and side effects are among the top reasons for non-adherence, affecting up to half of the patients studied.
According to Dr. McDougall, high-fat low-carbohydrate diets can increase the risk of heart disease, kidney failure, colon cancer, and more. In contrast, populations that consume high-carbohydrate foods tend to have a lower risk of these conditions.
Duke University Medical Center researchers discovered a link between the level of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and coronary artery disease severity. Patients with multi-vessel disease had significantly lower EPC counts, indicating that these cells play an important role in protecting blood vessels from damage.
Rimonabant demonstrated significant weight loss and improvement in metabolic profile in patients with obesity and untreated dyslipidemia. The drug also improved cardiovascular risk factors, including HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides, by reducing inflammation and increasing adiponectin levels.
A DNA vaccine has been shown to protect against anthrax, with the protective antigen (PA)-based vaccine proving more effective than the lethal factor (LF)-based vaccine. The study found that immunization with PA induces antibodies capable of neutralizing toxin and conferring protection.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will become a regional hub for research on health workforce and healthcare access. The new center aims to provide timely information to policymakers about critical health workforce issues, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Researchers have identified a critical gene called Lgl1, which plays a vital role in shaping cell behavior during embryonic brain development. The study found that mice lacking this gene exhibit dramatic abnormalities and resemble human patients with medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor.
Rimonabant successfully treated tobacco dependence and reduced post-cessation weight gain in a double-blind trial. Patients who received the 20mg dose had higher abstinence rates and less weight gain compared to those on placebo.
Cornell University and Caltech researchers will develop the world's most sensitive sub-millimeter telescope in the Atacama Desert, capable of probing star formation during galaxy formation. The telescope's high sensitivity will enable studies of large-scale universe structure and hidden planets in circumstellar disks.
A study published in the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics reveals how cannabinoids produce hypothermia, a decrease in body temperature. The research suggests that nitric oxide plays a role in regulating cannabinoid-induced hypothermia.
Researchers at OHSU will explore the use of evolutionary computing to analyze images and classify abnormalities in the prostate. The goal is to create a more accurate and less invasive method for detecting prostate cancer.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic developed a pretreatment test to identify patients at high risk for urinary tract difficulties after brachytherapy. The study found that 37% of high-risk patients developed some urinary difficulties, while 85% of low-risk patients did not experience problems.
Sir John Skehel's 30-year research on the influenza virus has led to a deeper understanding of how it infects cells and evolves to evade the immune system. His discovery has helped develop antiviral drugs targeting viral surface proteins, saving millions from global flu outbreaks.
Emory researchers discovered significant racial and gender disparities in heart attack treatment, with African-American women receiving the least aggressive care. The study analyzed records of over 672,000 white and black patients younger than 75 and found no trend towards improvement in recent years.
Crestor effectively tackles elevated non-HDL cholesterol levels, a key risk factor for heart attacks and strokes, in patients with metabolic syndrome. The medication demonstrates significant results in reducing the incidence of these cardiovascular diseases.
A new study reveals that rural South Africa is facing a significant stroke crisis, with rates of disability comparable to those in developed countries. The prevalence of disabled stroke survivors has important implications for healthcare systems, highlighting the need for adapted care strategies and early treatment.
A new US policy has reduced gaming in heart transplant waiting lists, but the competition for scarce organs still exists. The researchers found that before the rule change, heart transplant centers in competitive areas were more likely to list patients in the sickest category.
A recent study found that over half of patients with heart failure could benefit from implanted cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), but Medicare's current guidelines exclude them. ICDs can prevent sudden cardiac death by monitoring heart rhythm and shocking the heart back into a normal pace.
A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that poor diet and physical inactivity are projected to overtake tobacco as the leading cause of death in the US. The study analyzed data from 2000 mortality reports and identified that approximately 400,000 deaths were attributed to poor diet and physical inactivity.
The STARR program improves patient knowledge of exercise and diet goals by 56.7%, while also increasing exercise and diet compliance to 67%. The program shows positive trends in weight loss, stress, blood pressure, diabetes control, and lipid goals.
A study by NASA and NOAA researchers reveals new climate patterns in the North Pacific Ocean, which differ from the traditional Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) pattern. The findings suggest that a single index like PDO is incomplete for characterizing the state of the North Pacific climate system.
A study by USGS researchers associates drought patterns in the US with multi-decade variations in North Pacific and North Atlantic sea surface temperatures. The research found that positive AMO (warm North Atlantic) and negative PDO (cool North Pacific) are linked to large-scale droughts, affecting regional weather patterns.
A new clip device has shown promising results in repairing faulty heart valves through a less invasive cath lab procedure. The device, developed by Evalve Inc., uses the edge-to-edge technique to repair or replace the mitral valve without open-heart surgery.
Researchers at McGill University have identified 209 proteins involved in the cellular uptake process, shedding light on protein interactions and disease mechanisms. The study provides a comprehensive molecular inventory of clathrin-coated vesicles, with broad implications for various fields in biology and medicine.
A new analysis found that Atacand(R) improved NYHA functional class in a broad spectrum of CHF patients, with 35.4% showing improvement and 9% worsening. The medication also reduced the development of atrial fibrillation and Type II diabetes mellitus in these patients.
Researchers found that 36% of infants were hospitalized, while 64% received treatment outside the hospital. Despite guideline non-adherence, infant mortality rates remained low.
A study of over 15,000 insured patients found that less than half were taking beta blockers regularly after a heart attack. The researchers highlight the importance of long-term adherence to the drug for its benefits.
A large Finnish study found that moderate to high coffee consumption was associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Drinking 3-4 cups of coffee per day was linked to a 29% reduced risk for women and a 27% lower risk for men.
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has awarded scholarships to 91 minority and underrepresented scientists participating in its Annual Meeting. The AACR offers several award programs, including the Minority Scholar Awards, which support early-career scientists from traditionally underrepresented groups.
A recent UCSF study found that pediatricians' clinical judgment may be more effective than strict adherence to guidelines in managing febrile illnesses in infants. The study analyzed data from 3,066 infants and found that experienced clinicians using clinical judgment may reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and improve treatment outcomes.
Lehigh engineering professor Shalinee Kishore aims to bring modern telecommunications to rural Pennsylvania through a five-year grant. She plans to develop and implement a plan to improve the county's wireless communications infrastructure, enabling residents to access high-speed Internet and lower-speed voice services.